Vanessa Cavanaugh,left, who lived in the apartment that was gutted cries at the scene of a fire at 3237 Seventh Ave. in Troy Wednesday morning. (Michael P. Farrell / Times Union)

Vanessa Cavanaugh,left, who lived in the apartment that was gutted cries at the scene of a fire at 3237 Seventh Ave. in Troy Wednesday morning. (Michael P. Farrell / Times Union)

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

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Firefighters work at the scene of a fire at 3237 Seventh Ave. in Troy Wednesday morning. (Michael P. Farrell / Times Union)

Firefighters work at the scene of a fire at 3237 Seventh Ave. in Troy Wednesday morning. (Michael P. Farrell / Times Union)

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

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Firefighters work at the scene of a fire at 3237 Seventh Ave. in Troy Wednesday morning. (Michael P. Farrell / Times Union)

Firefighters work at the scene of a fire at 3237 Seventh Ave. in Troy Wednesday morning. (Michael P. Farrell / Times Union)

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

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Firefighters work at the scene of the fire at 3237 Seventh Ave. in Troy Wednesday morning. (Michael P. Farrell / Times Union)

Firefighters work at the scene of the fire at 3237 Seventh Ave. in Troy Wednesday morning. (Michael P. Farrell / Times Union)

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

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Firefighters work at the scene of the fire at 3237 Seventh Ave. in Troy Wednesday morning. (Michael P. Farrell / Times Union)

Firefighters work at the scene of the fire at 3237 Seventh Ave. in Troy Wednesday morning. (Michael P. Farrell / Times Union)

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

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Firefighters work at the scene of the fire at 3237 Seventh Ave. in Troy Wednesday morning. (Michael P. Farrell / Times Union)

Firefighters work at the scene of the fire at 3237 Seventh Ave. in Troy Wednesday morning. (Michael P. Farrell / Times Union)

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

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Firefighters work at the scene of the fire at 3237 Seventh Ave. in Troy Wednesday morning. (Michael P. Farrell / Times Union)

Firefighters work at the scene of the fire at 3237 Seventh Ave. in Troy Wednesday morning. (Michael P. Farrell / Times Union)

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

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Three-alarm blaze called suspicious fire guts teachers' home

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TROY-- It took firefighters almost two hours to get a suspicious three-alarm apartment blaze under control Wednesday morning on 7th Avenue.

The very smoky fire started just before 10 a.m. in the rear area of a brick duplex at 3237 Seventh Ave. in the city's North Central section. The blaze had engulfed the back of the building by the time firefighters arrived.

Troy Fire Chief Tom Garrett said the fire near the intersection of Seventh and Park avenues was considered suspicious.

"At this time of day, in a heavily populated neighborhood, it is very unusual to see a fire get the kind of start this did,'' Garrett said. Arson investigators were called to the scene.

As crews worked to subdue the fire, two aerial ladder trucks with two fire nozzles each poured water on the building from above, and water cascaded out the front door and down the steps of the duplex.

The smoke and flames were so intense, the first firefighters to arrive were quickly ordered out of the building for safety reasons, Garrett said.

A red-trimmed brick two-story home where the fire started was gutted by the fire. The apartments on the other half of the duplex sustained water and smoke damage. A vacant three-story building on the corner was not damaged.

''We were able to save the other half of the duplex,'' Garrett said.

Building tenants were at work when the fire started, and no one was injured.

Willie Lee Holmes said he got a call at work notifying him that his side of the duplex was on fire.

"I thought I was going to get here and (discover) the whole building was gone," said Holmes, who has lived in the house for 15 years and was remodeling a second-floor apartment.

"They told me I'd get a lot of smoke damage at least. That is all I know so far. I won't know anything until I get inside," Holmes said.

American Red Cross of Northeastern New York gave emergency aid to five people after the fire, a spokesman said. Four adults and one child were assisted with food, clothing and shelter and will get additional aid, if needed, over the next few days.

A mutual aid call went out and fire departments from Albany, Watervliet, Green Island and Cohoes also rushed to the scene or staged in Troy firehouses.

Bob Gardinier can be reached at 454-5696 or bgardinier@timesunion.com.